[Gastroduodenal ulcers in young adults. An epidemiological study (author's transl)]

An epidemiological survey of gastroduodenal ulcers was carried ut in an homogenous population of 100000 young adults of National Service age, and the results were compared with those of a similar survey which had taken place 6 years previously. Between 1971 and 1977 the overall incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers had risen from 1,57 to 2.14 p. 1000, but there ws a sharper and more significant increase (from 0.14 to 0.41 p. 1000) in gastric ulcers during the same period. Some of the aetiological factors investigated, such as age of onset of the disease, closed or open community housing conditions, individual predisposition, family history of ulcers, family status and inaugural symptoms, had remained unchanged, but there appeared to be a growing tendency for the disease to strike predominantly students and executives. If this were confirmed, these two social categories would be those which bear the brunt of the increase in gastroduodenal ulcers observed during the last few years.